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I always wanted to try to “dress up” bike in woolen outfit. I was recently offered the excellent opportunity to do it. Charity organization “WorldGranny” from Amsterdam organized an event for the International Day of Older Persons (October 2nd ): conference, debate and bike auction.
Bicycles, previously purchased by this organization, has been given equal kind of artists to decorate them: “pimp up”. These bikes will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be donated to the WorldGranny’s activities.
“Dress-up” bike turned out to be an interesting challenge. This is not a difficult thing but intensive labor and requires a lot of patience. It should demonstrate the precision in measuring the individual elements. It is good to make a plan, drawing, or a list of those items. The all pieces of “clothing” need to be described or numbered to not replace anything.. Most of the items are simple geometric shapes but similar to each other and can easily be confused. The biggest challenge was the saddle, rear wheel cover, and the hardest: chain guard.
From the beginning, I decided to crochet hook as a tool : it is faster and – more importantly in this case – it’s easy to form different shapes when crocheting. Also crocheting can be a bit of a splurge: to make frill or a flower quickly and easily.

I worked on the bike for two weeks and I have to admit that the effect is worth it. I’m satisfied with that work. I hope that the auction is successful and my crochet granny bike will provide a nice sum of money for WorldGranny activity.

WorldGranny is a non-profit organization that aims to empower older people, particularly older women, and to the elimination of (extreme) poverty.WorldGranny contributes to improving the lives of older people, their families and communities in developing countries. In the Netherlands WorldGranny to raise awareness about the situation of older people in developing countries and it raises funds to support projects in these countries.

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Just as planned, a week after installing Ooshaky, done the next round. Visited all fifteen place where they are. Well, the balance isn’t very bad: I can say “fifty-fifty”. Half of Ooshaky is bad and half is well. Continue reading →

Throughout the summer I gathered quite big collection of Oosaky ready-to-install in the city. Using a beautiful Sunday, went today with all of them to the center of Rotterdam.
Almost all day circled around the city looking for cool places for the entire group. At the end all of the fifteen pieces have found their place on the posts.

Also today I met with a positive responses: in this case, mainly passing cyclists. And as always, it’s so nice to know that there are people who like it. Unfortunately, there are also those who do not respect that.
I am very curious how long this fifteen will continue in city. Neither one of the two previous editions (ooshaky 1 & ooshaky 2) did not survived so far. I will try to visit them soon and see how they are.

I hope You can meet my Ooshaky on your bicycle path and they will make you smile… Oh and before someone removes it from there.
So, have a lot of smiles.

It was a very pleasant Sunday. Beautiful weather, warm and sunny. I just felt in the air coming spring. A great day for the inauguration of the cycling season and … “yarn bombing” season too : ). This project was waiting for his moment for a long time. The idea came in my head, even last year. During the long winter evenings were knitting. And now, the first spring days, these crazy creatures came into the world.

“Ooshaky” – these are funny and colorful creatures with woolen head. Have cool ears or horns. Live in a big city and like to amuse cyclists. Want to be stroked on the head. You can also tell them something nice. They are found at the crossroads near the traffic lights. Mostly on poles with yellow button. That button is their nose. “Ooshaky” are standing there and waiting to push the nose. Pressing the nose they like most. So, press the nose and smile!

Installing them to the city provided me with much joy. The positive reactions of passers-by and a smile on their faces is a pleasure for me. And the motivation for further action. I just need to fix up the model since, because the earlier measurements were not very accurate, and size does not fit perfectly. The next series will have been corrected. This project will be continued so get ready for more creatures you can press their noses. Look around carefully, you can meet Ooshaky on your way.

This story was long awaited for publication. A constant deficiency of the time for all my projects is a reason. Is worth telling because it says a lot about the reactions of bystanders on the phenomenon of yarnbombing and the emotions they evoke, sometimes quite unintentionally. The case took place in Mozelos by the Porto up to the end of September.

In Portugal I was for inviting my wonderful friends. It is exactly thanks to contacts with them my nickname is Maluca. Yes, they regard theses I’m a bit crazy ( Maluca in Portuguese means crazy : )). They like what I am doing ( guerilla knitting ) and they were satisfied, that in Portugal I had also left a lot of my yarnbombs. They asked me to make something specially for them and installed close them so they could be pleased with this thing usually.

So I did the next little devil and I sewed it right away before their block on the street lamp. As ever I supplied him with my tag with logo: Maluca.

Finishing details of the little devil I talked to my friend about linguistic resemblances and while I sewed exactly horns I associated the saying for oneself grated: “to cuckold somebody”. I asked whether they in the Portuguese were also using this phrase. It turned out, that yes and in the same meaning.

I stitched the little devil on the post of the lamp with late afternoon and right away then I got back home. Then we sent our men for groceries. They came back soon laughing one’s head off. They were heard already from the lift. What was the reason? As it turned out my harmless installation triggered considerable emotions and the commotion amongst residents.

On the pavement before the block a group stood doggedly discussing residents: “What is this?, “Why does it have horns?”, ” Whether is it some suggestion?”, ” Does somebody want because of that to say something about living here women?”, ” Or about men?!”, ” And why there is written: Maluca? “. Our Portuguese friend joined in the discussion trying to explain what here it is, about the phenomenon of “yarnbombing”. He quoted examples of different kind of street art and tried to prove that it’s also a kind of the piece of street art. And it’s aimed at nothing bad, is suggesting nothing. It’s rather for decorating cities and amusing passers-by. The group of neighbours didn’t seem however to understand his explanations. And I don’t think so everyone caused the impression amused. They were only interested in it why “this” had horns and why “Maluca” (even didn’t take note that it was nly a nick name ).

Really somebody had a little something on the conscience and felt unmasked? Of it we don’t know. We are also knowing nothing about secrets of neighbours. However we know that the harmless installation of wool can evoke considerable emotions and completely accidentally move the local community ( or only some individuals ; )).

Only a cleaning lady which even liked the decoration seemed amused. Most probably also the entire confusion, because provided rumours with the subject. Is it interesting whether the little devil still there or perhaps did some cuckold already dismiss him : ).

Ignacy Lukasiewicz was an important figure in the history of the region and country. Contributed to the development of the oil industry, invented the oil lamp. I respect his achievements. In recognition of Mr. Lukasiewicz city founded the monument, on which he was proud to hold his work: the oil lamp. I remember it from my childhood but later lamp disappeared. Many times lamp was back and quickly was gone. I think that sooner cactus grows in the hand of Mr. Ignatius than the oil lamp returns.

Oh, it’s just an innocent joke. This is not a protest, demanding the return of happening lamp. It’s just guerilla knitting. Manifestation of artistic activity spread throughout the whole world. Generally speaking, in terms of variety, embellishment, amusement or surprise passers-by. And above all, have fun and smile. And a little bit of positive emotions I wanted to leave here in my hometown. Let’s hope that the residents of Krosno show a sense of humor and sensitivity to art. And Mr. Ignatius will be able to enjoy a new “gadget” for a while. Life doesn’t have to be sad and deadly serious. Let’s smile now!

The installation was created on Thursday October 20,2011 approx. 9.15

Unfortunately, a few hours later the cactus was gone. We must openly admit that town of Krosno is out-of-the-way locality, the art is not known here (at least street art), and in many cases have parochial mind. Surely the authorities or municipal services also do not have an ounce sense of humor!

My last holiday stay in Lisbon (PT) has resulted in another work dedicated to LionHeartProject: Mr. D.Evil. Now you can also view it on their website: www.lionheartproject.com. As always with great pleasure I created something inspired by the works of Shauna’s. Warm greetings for all crew of Lion Heart Project.